10 Most Shocking 2023 Wrestler Transformations
6. Roderick Strong
In a very literal sense, Roderick Strong hasn't transformed at all: he left NXT in a neck brace and was quickly put into a neck brace in AEW.
He debuted on the April 26 Dynamite to a stunned reaction. His WWE status was uncertain, and the expiration of his contract had not been announced. He arrived as the old Roddy Strong, storming the ring to 'The End of Heartache', and seemed poised to play the cult hero super-stiff midcard babyface ass-kicker who would probably lose the big matches, but make a hundred heels credible along the way.
This...didn't happen.
Instead - to mixed results with incredible, piss-funny highs - he transformed into a needy lapdog desperate for the affection of Adam Cole, whose continued friendship Strong manipulated in jealousy of MJF. He was mostly amusing in the role before the storyline got too silly. His wearing glasses to appear smart and trustworthy was a great visual gag, and his muted, passive aggressive line readings put across the idea that he was the friend you all have that is all too easy to resent.
A lot of it was dumb, yes, but "Adam knows what he did, Renee" was such a great line, one that located the sweet spot between sinister and hilariously pathetic.
On the subject of MJF...